Search for

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Boring Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Virola sebifera Trade Name Baboen Family Name Myristicaceae Common Names Baboen, Babun, Bagabani, Banak, Camaticaro, Chalviande, Cumala, Dalli, Moonba, Sangre, Sangre de toro, Sangrede foro, Sangrino, St. Jean Rouge, Ucuhuba, Ucuuba, Venhuba, Virola, Yamadou Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Coffins, Cooperages, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Toothpicks, Turnery, Veneer Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Black Red Orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Pale red to pink White to cream Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Paler than heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Figure Even Other (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Other figures are possible or common Texture Fine Medium Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Luster Slightly lustrous Pronounced Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Drying Defects Severe cupping Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Moderate Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Boring Moderately easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Moderately easy to mortise Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Moulding ease is moderate Movement in Service Not stable/prone to move Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Holds satisfactorily Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Screwing yields satisfactory results Turning Finish is generally satisfactory Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Polishing Good results Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8670 13570 psi Density 34 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1883 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 33 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 609 954 kg/cm2 Density 544 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 132 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 528 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Garratt, G.A.,1933,Systematic anatomy of the woods of the Myristicacaeae,Tropical Woods,5(35,pp6-48 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4 Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.